• Bayern's coach Hansi Flick holds the Champions League trophy. AP
    Bayern's coach Hansi Flick holds the Champions League trophy. AP
  • Bayern players lift coach Hansi Flick after the Champions League victory. AP
    Bayern players lift coach Hansi Flick after the Champions League victory. AP
  • Bayern coach Hansi Flick, left, and David Alaba, right, comfort PSG's Neymar. AP
    Bayern coach Hansi Flick, left, and David Alaba, right, comfort PSG's Neymar. AP
  • Hansi Flick embraces Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara. AFP
    Hansi Flick embraces Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara. AFP
  • Hansi Flick after winning the Champions League. EPA
    Hansi Flick after winning the Champions League. EPA
  • Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick holds the trophy. Reuters
    Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick holds the trophy. Reuters
  • Bayern's head coach Hans-Dieter Flick is tossed in the air. AP
    Bayern's head coach Hans-Dieter Flick is tossed in the air. AP
  • Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick lifts the trophy. Reuters
    Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick lifts the trophy. Reuters
  • Hansi Flick with Thomas Mueller (R), Joshua Kimmich (2L) and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic (L) after winning the Champions League final. EPA
    Hansi Flick with Thomas Mueller (R), Joshua Kimmich (2L) and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic (L) after winning the Champions League final. EPA

Jurgen Klopp praises Hansi Flick for guiding Bayern Munich to treble


Steve Luckings
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised his Bayern Munich counterpart Hansi Flick for guiding the Germans to a treble-winning season after only eight months in charge.

Bayern beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in Lisbon on Sunday to add the Champions League trophy to their German league-and-cup double, the second time the Bavarian giants have achieved that feat.

"It is a bit difficult to write more history in just eight months," Klopp told ZDF television.

Flick, 55, replaced the sacked Niko Kovac in November with Bayern fourth. But on Sunday they completed a dream season under their former player, lifting a sixth European Cup and ending 2020 season unbeaten.

The Bundesliga was the first major sports league to resume in May after a break of more than two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Germany was a bit lucky that, amid the scheduling chaos, their schedule was better suited for the Champions League," Klopp said.

"Nevertheless, Bayern are at the moment definitely one of the absolute top, top teams. There is not a lot to complain about."

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp, who guided Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019, has not always found it easy to praise Bayern and has a history of mocking their losses.

However, on this occasion, the 53-year-old was effusive in his praise.

"Bayern have a sensational squad. They have world class players in all positions, all at just the right age," he added.

"I know a few teams in England that could beat Bayern on a good day but even if these teams were there [in the Champions League] Bayern could still have won it because of their quality."

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PSG v Bayern Munich player ratings

  • PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7: Made a smart save from a close-range Lewandowski header, and clung on to a powerful drive by Gnabry, but had no chance with Coman’s winner. Reuters
    PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7: Made a smart save from a close-range Lewandowski header, and clung on to a powerful drive by Gnabry, but had no chance with Coman’s winner. Reuters
  • Thilo Kehrer - 5: Had his work cut out against the pace of Davies and Coman. Initially seemed up for the battle, but they eventually exposed him. Reuters
    Thilo Kehrer - 5: Had his work cut out against the pace of Davies and Coman. Initially seemed up for the battle, but they eventually exposed him. Reuters
  • Thiago Silva - 7: Could not have given much more in what might have been his final game for PSG, and kept his side in it with a goalline clearance. AFP
    Thiago Silva - 7: Could not have given much more in what might have been his final game for PSG, and kept his side in it with a goalline clearance. AFP
  • Presnel Kimpembe - 8: Made the most of his chance to boot a clearance hard at Lewandowski, and marshalled the dangerman well throughout. Made a brave header to save a certain goal. AFP
    Presnel Kimpembe - 8: Made the most of his chance to boot a clearance hard at Lewandowski, and marshalled the dangerman well throughout. Made a brave header to save a certain goal. AFP
  • Juan Bernat - 7: Looked exhausted when he gave way to injury with 10 minutes left, having done all he could to prove his point to his old club. AFP
    Juan Bernat - 7: Looked exhausted when he gave way to injury with 10 minutes left, having done all he could to prove his point to his old club. AFP
  • Ander Herrera - 7: Might have been more selfish when he set up Mbappe for a shot in the first half. Tireless in defending, but withdrawn as PSG chased the game. AFP
    Ander Herrera - 7: Might have been more selfish when he set up Mbappe for a shot in the first half. Tireless in defending, but withdrawn as PSG chased the game. AFP
  • Marquinhos - 7: Showed his best form once PSG had gone behind, and was only denied an equaliser by the outstretched leg of Neuer. EPA
    Marquinhos - 7: Showed his best form once PSG had gone behind, and was only denied an equaliser by the outstretched leg of Neuer. EPA
  • Leandro Paredes - 7: Up for the battle, but threatened to lose his poise when Gnabry fouled Neymar. AP
    Leandro Paredes - 7: Up for the battle, but threatened to lose his poise when Gnabry fouled Neymar. AP
  • Angel Di Maria - 5: Nowhere near the stellar influence of his semi-final masterclass, and he wasted a good shooting chance in the first half. EPA
    Angel Di Maria - 5: Nowhere near the stellar influence of his semi-final masterclass, and he wasted a good shooting chance in the first half. EPA
  • Neymar - 6: Ended the game in tears as his side fell short. On the receiving end of some robust tackles, and was not able to impact the game in the danger zones. AFP
    Neymar - 6: Ended the game in tears as his side fell short. On the receiving end of some robust tackles, and was not able to impact the game in the danger zones. AFP
  • Kylian Mbappe - 6: Passed up a golden opportunity when he shot straight at Neuer in the first half, and still did not look a peak sharpness, despite one searing break in the second phase. EPA
    Kylian Mbappe - 6: Passed up a golden opportunity when he shot straight at Neuer in the first half, and still did not look a peak sharpness, despite one searing break in the second phase. EPA
  • SUBS: Marco Verratti - (On for Paredes 65') 6: It said much about the state of play at the time that a player with such a chequered disciplinary was brought on to calm PSG as they chased the game. AFP
    SUBS: Marco Verratti - (On for Paredes 65') 6: It said much about the state of play at the time that a player with such a chequered disciplinary was brought on to calm PSG as they chased the game. AFP
  • Julian Draxler - (On for Herrera 72') 5: The German forward had no discernible effect after being introduced. Reuters
    Julian Draxler - (On for Herrera 72') 5: The German forward had no discernible effect after being introduced. Reuters
  • Layvin Kurzawa - (On for Bernat 80') NA. Just enough time to get booked during a fraught end. Reuters
    Layvin Kurzawa - (On for Bernat 80') NA. Just enough time to get booked during a fraught end. Reuters
  • Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - (On for Di María 80') NA: A rushed substitution for Di Maria when PSG had their final chance to make a change. He was found wanting as two vital late chances fell his way. AFP
    Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - (On for Di María 80') NA: A rushed substitution for Di Maria when PSG had their final chance to make a change. He was found wanting as two vital late chances fell his way. AFP
  • BAYERN MUNICH RATINGS: Manuel Neuer - 8: So assured despite the high stakes. Made an important double save from Neymar early on, and was impassable thereafter. AP
    BAYERN MUNICH RATINGS: Manuel Neuer - 8: So assured despite the high stakes. Made an important double save from Neymar early on, and was impassable thereafter. AP
  • Joshua Kimmich - 8: Picked out Coman with a sumptuous cross for the winner. Strong in defence with some important blocks on Mbappe. AFP
    Joshua Kimmich - 8: Picked out Coman with a sumptuous cross for the winner. Strong in defence with some important blocks on Mbappe. AFP
  • Jerome Boateng - 6: Substituted early in the semi-final, and limped off after a rapid PSG break in the 25th minute of the final, too. Getty
    Jerome Boateng - 6: Substituted early in the semi-final, and limped off after a rapid PSG break in the 25th minute of the final, too. Getty
  • David Alaba - 7: PSG went without a goal in the Champions League for the first time since 2016. That was thanks to a fine defensive effort all over the pitch by Bayern, not least at centre back. EPA
    David Alaba - 7: PSG went without a goal in the Champions League for the first time since 2016. That was thanks to a fine defensive effort all over the pitch by Bayern, not least at centre back. EPA
  • Alphonso Davies - 8: Trod a fine line after being booked for a foul on Kehrer during a nervy start, but had the perfect ending to his extraordinary breakout season. Reuters
    Alphonso Davies - 8: Trod a fine line after being booked for a foul on Kehrer during a nervy start, but had the perfect ending to his extraordinary breakout season. Reuters
  • Thiago Alcantara - 9: On the few occasions Bayern looked pressured, they looked for Alcantara and he passed them out of trouble. AP
    Thiago Alcantara - 9: On the few occasions Bayern looked pressured, they looked for Alcantara and he passed them out of trouble. AP
  • Leon Goretzka - 8: Meted out some tough treatment to PSG’s flair players, and was a vital cog in the German champions’ pressing game. Getty
    Leon Goretzka - 8: Meted out some tough treatment to PSG’s flair players, and was a vital cog in the German champions’ pressing game. Getty
  • Serge Gnabry - 6: Not the impact of the two knockout matches in Portugal, and was yellow carded during a heated exchange with Neymar. AP
    Serge Gnabry - 6: Not the impact of the two knockout matches in Portugal, and was yellow carded during a heated exchange with Neymar. AP
  • Thomas Muller - 8: A bundle of energy as he led the pressing early on, then found space in his trademark style in attack as the game wore on. AFP
    Thomas Muller - 8: A bundle of energy as he led the pressing early on, then found space in his trademark style in attack as the game wore on. AFP
  • Kingsley Coman - 8: The only change to the Bayern XI from the semi-final was bringing Coman in for Perisic, and he netted a fairy tale goal against his one-time employers. Could have had a penalty, too. Getty
    Kingsley Coman - 8: The only change to the Bayern XI from the semi-final was bringing Coman in for Perisic, and he netted a fairy tale goal against his one-time employers. Could have had a penalty, too. Getty
  • Robert Lewandowski - 7: Unusually, he went without a goal. He hit the post with his first shot, with Navas beaten, but otherwise got no change from Kimpembe. Getty
    Robert Lewandowski - 7: Unusually, he went without a goal. He hit the post with his first shot, with Navas beaten, but otherwise got no change from Kimpembe. Getty
  • SUBS: Niklas Suele - (On for Boateng 25') 7: Came on for his 100th appearance for Bayern when Boateng was injured. He was booked for an unnecessary foul on Di Maria, but did the job he was paid to do in blunting PSG. AFP
    SUBS: Niklas Suele - (On for Boateng 25') 7: Came on for his 100th appearance for Bayern when Boateng was injured. He was booked for an unnecessary foul on Di Maria, but did the job he was paid to do in blunting PSG. AFP
  • Philippe Coutinho - (On for Gnabry 68') 6: A Champions League winner while on loan from Barcelona – which could prove a costly move for the beleaguered Catalan club. Reuters
    Philippe Coutinho - (On for Gnabry 68') 6: A Champions League winner while on loan from Barcelona – which could prove a costly move for the beleaguered Catalan club. Reuters
  • Ivan Perisic - (On for Coman 68') 7: The decision to replace him with Coman in the starting XI proved to be the right one, but he did a fine job when he replaced the young Frenchman in the second half. EPA
    Ivan Perisic - (On for Coman 68') 7: The decision to replace him with Coman in the starting XI proved to be the right one, but he did a fine job when he replaced the young Frenchman in the second half. EPA
  • Corentin Tolisso - (On for Thiago Alcantar 86') NA. Made himself as busy as he could in the small time he was afforded at the end of the game. AFP
    Corentin Tolisso - (On for Thiago Alcantar 86') NA. Made himself as busy as he could in the small time he was afforded at the end of the game. AFP